Method and apparatus for closing and sealing containers



Nov. 20, 1951 J. A. ZlNN, JR 2,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND SEALING CONTAINERS FiledJan. 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y INVENTORQ JuZizwA. Zirzzz.,Jn

Nov. 20, 1951 J. A. ZINN, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND SEALING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 INVENTOR. JuliusA. Z z'rm, Jr:

\ I BY Nov. 20, 1951 2,575,544

J. A. ZlNN, JR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING I AND SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

JuliusA. zim, Jr.

dii 'ys Nov. 20, 1951 J. A. ZlNN, JR 2,575,544

. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mass-555s;-

INVbFNTOR.

JulizzSA. 211222, J)?

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED STAT METHOD AND APPARATUS "FOR CLOSING .AND SEALING CONTAINERS r., Chicagmlll.

;Application January 26, 1949',"Serial N0.*l2,828

to methods and appara- V 7 .locallyheatedto-facilitate an initial and partial closing operation.

.Still .another object -.of the invention is the provision of .such methods and apparatus-wherein vboardcontainers of the type having an open 45 the bellowstypetop isfully formed andis firmly .mouth portion scored along predetermined-fold retainedin its formed positionduring the sealing .lines :to form a -.ful1y-depressib1e bellows-type operation. -.-closure,.-and the invention has for 'an-object the .Further objects and adv-antages of thepresent provision of methods and apparatus for providinvention will become apparent as the following .ing uniform liquid-tight closure seals in'contain- 11-0 description proceeds, and the featuresofnovelty -.ersof-this character. whichcharacterize the:invention will bepoi-nted Although not specifically: limited thereto, methout with particularityin the, claims annexed to odsland apparatus embodying the presentinvenand. forminga partof .thiaspecification. tion' areparticularly designed foriusewith, and For-a morecomplete understandingofthe'inwill hereinafterbeillustrated and described-in 2L5 ventionreference shouldnowbe.hadfltolthedraw connection with, containers of the type disclosed .ings,.in which:

a prior PatenteNo.- 2,412,666. issued December Figsala lband 1c,.when.arranged instaggered 17,1946; to thepresent inventor. Such containers, lrelationlinthe order :indicated, with Fig. .104 at which preferably are formed from moisture- -the upperlefthandcorner, illustrate a preferred =profed and preferably paraffin coated or impreg- .formof apparatusfon carryingout a closing and. nated :paper-boardare provided with fully-desealingmethod embodying the presentinvention; ,pressible'bellows-type closuresin which the end Figs; 2,3,4 and .5: are.respectivelyiragmentary walls of 'themouth portion are tucked inwardly sectionalviewstakenalong the. lines.22,-.3e3, andthen folded flat to form, with the side walls 4-4 .and;55 of Fig..1b; 0f themouth-portion, anelongated upstanding Fig.fiisafragmentaryend.viewof theiheating closure rib. The closure rib thusformed is preferand; pressureapplying apparatus shown inFig. 1c, ably closed or covered byfolding thereover a flap and. a container associated therewith, the conformed as-an-extension of one of the side walls tainenbeing shown incross section; of the mouth portion. In order to minimize the .Fig. -'7 is .a horizontal sectional view taken obvious danger of leakage through the space throughthe.closurerib.afterthemouth portion :formed between v the inner folded edges 0f the .ofthe containerhasbeen:fully formed. but before bellows fold formed by the end panels; the closing th sealing. operation; .flap'ortab, as fully 'eXplained a p .Fig..8lis asectionalviewsimilarfltoFig. 7 taken -patent is formed of a-double thickness at the through the closure rib filler'fl'lle. ',10sfu'1g.and, area"correspondingito-iihis p Space, SO 35.sealing operationhas-been fully completed; and up Closing-0f the-folding ptab and .Fig.-.9.is.aifragmentary vertical sectional view v pression thereof, .the double thickness'of the flap taken. subsbantially...a,1ong .the.1ine 9--9 of .Fjg fi, -will-. substantially compensate for and cause such -Referring t the drawings -the i ti vspaceto be filledup, thus eliminating a possible is shown as applied toiaseries. of containers 1-0 of source'ofleakage- .thetype disclosed-in thenaforesaidprior patent,

Ill-has been found, however, thateven with whichcontainersarepreformed toprovideasubcontainers thus constructed leakage diificulties .stantia11y .re@tangu1ar b dy pgrtign surmounted may be. encountered unlessthe closing and sealing .s r t pgrtion. comprising ,suitably Operations correctly "Performed through the sacred inwardly collapsible end'panels- I land- I2 utilization ofapropenmethodsandapparatus. Al SuitablyScored.inwardlyfgidame sidepanels .though proper closure. and sealing maybe insured .by manual manipulation of. each container,--.such practices are uneconoinical and unsatisfactory .fromthe standpoint. of quantity production. Ac-

cordingly it isa further object of thisinvention to. provide. an improved methodfor properly closand sealing. cartons of this .type on a quantity .production .basis.

A furtherobject-oftheainvention is the-provision of a fully automatic apparatus for quickly r --andeificiently closing and sealing containers of this character.

Another object of the invention-is the provision of methods and apparatus for closing and sealing containers "wherein the containers are F:

13 and' l'l each of the-panels having-anupper edge portion of the inner-surface thereof coated with a-.-suitable-adhesive of the hot melt type, -as indicated hy the reference numeral 1-5. -In

-ad'dition," the-end panels ti andlz and the side panel- 1-3 are provided wi-th a similarly coated por- -ti0non" the outersurface thereof, as indicated by the reference numeral l6, and the side'panel M includes an upwardly --extending -closure flap or tab 11, the inside surface of which is likewise ccoated 'wit'h the hot melt"adhesive. It is the .usuali-practice, particularly wherethe containers are to be -employed for liquids or "semi-liquid rinaterials; -to form the container from suitably 50 shaped blanks to which the "adhesive has -been applied in the zones I and It, and to then coat by dipping or other suitable impregnating process, the entire container with paraifin or similar water-proofing materials.

The water-proof container thus formed is then ready for filling, closing and sealing and, as explained in the aforesaid prior patent, the closing and sealing operation is accomplished by collapsing the end panels II and I2 inwardly and folding the side panels I3 and I4 inwardly so that the adhesive coated edge portions of the panels form an upstanding closure rib over which the flap I1 is then folded preparatory to the final sealing operation. It has been found, however,

that the initial inward foldingof the endand side panels when the container is parafiin coated or impregnated may result in cracking or distorting the container and further difiiculties may be encountered in the event that the final sealing of the closure rib is not properly performed.

Although in Figs. la, 1b and a series of containers has been illustrated, it will be assumed for purposes of description that only a single container is shown in a plurality of positions during the closing and sealing operation, the various positions being identified by the letters A to M, inclusive. In accordance with the present invention, the closing and sealing apparatus comprises suitable container supporting members I8 which are in the form of cups shaped to receive the body portion of the containers so as rigidly to support the container walls against bulging or similar deformation, and it will be observed that the cups I8 extend to a point closely adjacent the fold lines defining the lower edges of the open mouth portion of the containers.

The container supporting cups are secured in any suitable manner to a suitable conveyor (not shown) so as to be moved at a predetermined rate alonga definite path. The conveyor mechanism, types of which are well known in the art, may constitute either a continuously moving or an intermittently moving mechanism, the details of the conveyor having been omitted in order to simplify the drawing, and the path of the conveyor being indicated by the various arrows I 9. Likewise any suitable mechanism may be employed for initially depositing the preformed open mouth containers in the supporting members I8. v

After having been thus deposited in one of the supporting members I8, the container Ill first moves through a heating zone constituting positions A and B in Fig. 1a, wherein heat is locally applied to the open mouth portion of the container extending above the supporting cup I8 so as to soften the paraffin coating on the container sufficiently to permit ready collapsing and folding of the end and side panels without breaking or deformation of the container along the fold lines. Various types of heating means may be employed, but for purposes of illustration a plurality of infra-red heat lamps 2I have been diagrammatically illustrated disposed along opposite sides of the path of travel of the conveyor mechanism so that the heat rays emitted by the lamps 2I will impinge upon the mouth portion of the container, being somewhat concentrated on the end panels II and I2.

From the heating zone represented by the positions A and B, the container with the parafiin in the desired softened condition passes to a prefold zone represented by the position C, wherein a pair of folding fingers 22 are provided, which fingers are adapted to be intermittently-moved inwardly and outwardly so as to engage the opposed end panels I I and I2 and force these panels inwardly, substantially to the position shown in position C, thereby initially to provide a partial fold of both the end panels I I and I2 and the side panels I3 and I4. Any suitable means operated by cams, or otherwise, in properly timed relation may be employed for operating the pressure exerting fingers 22, as will be clear to those skilled in the art. Upon completion of the prefolding operation in position C, the container I0 may pass to a filling zone represented by the position D, wherein the container may be filled through the now partially closed mouth portion by means of any suitable filling apparatus, such for example as the filling head 23 diagrammatically illustrated in position D of Fig. 1a. Any suitable filling means, either of the straightthrough-type or of the turret-type may, of course, be employed, but the arrangement should be such that the container In at some point in the filling operation, either before, during or after, is rotated approximately degrees from the position occupied during travel through the heating and pre-folding zones.

It will, of course, be understood that in some cases it will be desirable to fill the containers while the mouth portions thereof are in the fully open position, and prior to passage of the containers through the heating zone of positions A and B. In such cases the container will pass directly from position C to position E of Fig. lb.

In order efiiciently and rapidly to complete the closing operation, the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1b is provided with oppositely disposed plows 24 and 25 arranged along the opposite sides of the path of travel of the conveyor mechanism carrying the container l0 and, as will be apparent upon inspection of Fig. 1b in conjunction with Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the plows 24 and 25, which are illustrated as being in the form of twisted bars, successively engage the outer surfaces of the side panels I 3 and I4 so as to force these panels inwardly and downwardly to a substantially fiat position, shown as position H. and it will be understood that during this folding of the side panels I3 and I4 the end panels ID and II are collapsed to a substantially fiat position while the adhesive coated upper edges of the side and end panels assume the final upstanding position shown in position H and in Fig. 5 with the adhesive coated portions I 5 and I6 in faceto-face relation. Although the plows 24 and 25 have been shown as constituting simple twisted bars, it will, of course, be understood that any suitable plow mechanism including container engaging rollers or the like may be employed if desired.

From position H the container l0 passes successively to positions I and J in which means are provided for folding the flap I I of the side wall panel I4 over the closure rib formed by the adhesive coated portions I5 and I5. Thus, as shown somewhat diagrammatically, the plow 25 is provided with a superimposed supporting plate 26 for supporting the closure rib on one side throughout substantially its entire height, and a suitable plow 2! is provided for folding the rib H from the vertical position shown in container position H to the horizontal position shown in container position I. Likewise, at position J a further plow member 28 is provided for folding the fiap II downwardly on the opposite side of the closure rib, thereby to complete the folding and forming operation. It will be observed that upon the completion of the folding and forming operation, .theisidelpanels .I Stand llhaverbeenrforced to :a substantially flat position, iniwh-ich, position ..they are {held by thevarious plows, during ..the "folding ofthe flapd'l. .IFIOmgDOSitlOHJihG container is moved by the conveyor mechanism .to2a

sealing .position K, wherein there ais provided a suitable. pair of inwardlyand outwardly movable ,heatingland pressureapplying.members 29. As shown, the inner slower edges of these pressure applying membersare shapedto provide a groove i3llifor. receiving the .upstanding :closure; rib on the container; lo andthe lowerlwalls ofthe members :29 are .disposedat .a predetermined height. soas to engage the 'flattenedlside wall panels ',I.3 -.an'd

I 4 andforceablyretain.thesepanels.in.the desired 'flattenedposition.

. After the container K haspassed. into a .position wherein the-.closureirib isreceivedwithin the, groove 30, the members .29 :move inwardly so as to clamp the riblandsupplylto theopposite surfaces thereof sufiicient pressure to .compact theri-b, as will be more fully explained in connection with EigsfTand 8. ThemembersflZS .may be heated by any suitablemeansasdiagrammatically indicated by thelinlet andloutlet passages 3|, through which. a suitable heating medium, liquid or gaseous, maybe, supplied to the interiorof the members'29. .Applicationof heat and pressure to the closure rib of'thecontainer is' effective to meltlthe adhesive applied .on the adjaoentffacesof ..the ribfforming poritions, aspreViously explained, andnnder .the

pressure exerted by the members 19,- any paraffin which may be present over the adhesive will be squeezed out and expelled-so that anadhesive-toadhesive bond is obtainedbetween'the various thicknesses ofthe closure rib. After the desired application of heat and pressure,"the-containers pass immediatelyLto a .cooling. zonerepresented ',-byposition'L' inliig. 10, wherein suitable cooling elements ."32 adapted to be supplied. with cooling medium through suitable ..inlet and outlet ports '33 are arranged "to "engagethe flattened .top portion of ,the' container llland oppos'itesurfaces of the closurerib, which is identifiedin position'L by the reference numeral-34, so as .to 'retainthe various "parts of"the.'closure rib and the'container top in the desired flattened position until such time'as. the adhesive has cooled and set.

-..by thefiiap I! include: double th-ickness:portions 35 which are disposed opposite 'the space 36, which exists *betweentheinner "ends of the bellows fold provided by the ..adhesive coated .portionsoflthe end panels I! and-.12. Likewise, as shown'in Fig. 7, the adjacentfaces of eac-h :of

the thicknesses of material-forming thec -closure- ,-rib3 l:is,provided with adayerwof adhesive .31, which,'=as, previously ind-icatedgis of the 'hot melt type, and this layer of sadhesive is covered by :an :"overlayer 3Boflparafiin.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the closure rib 34 is shown in The finished container, whichis indicated in the-position M"with the top-tightly :6 itsfinal-cond-ition-eafter :the application of heat and; pressure thereto -anditwill :now' beeobserved -that thedouble ithickness; portions '35, have-been forced inwardly so athat tthese portions in men- .Junetion with-a :portion 139 of Fthe side wall I3 completelyseloseathe space=.36- ,shown;in Fi 7. :It will be observed that the: para-inn. lay Shown in .-Fig..-.8rhea-disa peared,- having been squeezed flout-by the application of pressure to the :rib .3 4, :and 1 consequently I a compact tightly sea-led closure rib isobtained. The? application of heat andv pressu-m by theimembers- 29 throughout substantially the 'entire u-length and'heightqof :the closure rib .34 assures -'a uniform bonding 41.10- getheriof thew-variousthicknessesof the rib so as to substantially eelimina-te the possibility of leakage.

While: aaparticular:embodiment: of the invention has 'been'shown; it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not .limited thereto since many modifications may be madelan'd it is .therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such -modif1cations as 1 fall within: the true spirit and scope of "the invention.

-What isscla-imedrand desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofitheUnited States: is:

:1. The :method-of closing and :sealing par- ,affined ore-similarly treated :paper board -containersof the type'having a preformed body portion surmounted -.by.anopen; mouth portion lseoredalong; predetermined fold lines to form. a fully depressible: bellows type closure, which comprises rigidly supporting -:said body' portion against a-outward fbulging, locally heating Jsaid mouth 1 portion to soften the 'parafiin thereon, applyinginwardlyrdirected forces to predetersmined tend areas ofrsai'd mouth portion while ssaid'" parafiin :isrin rsoftened. "condition partially to-fold saidmouth portionialong said score lines, "progressivelyzforcing opposed side wallv panels of said mouthi'portion inwardly to a substantially fiat;- posit-ion; applyingheat: and pressure to ad- 'jacent 'edgestof said Irside' wall panels'to seal said edges together while=maintaining said side wall .panels :inssaidflat position, and then cooling :said sealed edges before releasing said side wall panels.

The *method of closing and sealing parafiined 01' similarly trea'tedpaper-board con- 'tainers of the type havin'g'a preformed body portion surmounted by "an open mouth portion scored alongpredetermined fold lines to form a fully depressible bellows type closure, which comprises:rigidly supporting said body portion against outward bulging, locally "heating said mouth portion 'tosoften the paraflin thereon, applying inwardly directed "forces to predetermined -endareas o'f said mouth portion while said :par-afiln is in softened condition partially to fold said-mouth portion along said'score lines, progressively' forcing opposed side wall panels of saidmouthportion'inwardly to a substantially 'flat position, wherein the inner edges of said side wall. panels extend upwardly in parallel re- -lation -to provide a multiple thickness adhesive *coa-tet closure ribyapplying heat and pressure to opposite surfaces-of saidclosure rib while main- :taining said side wall-panels in 'sa-idsfiat posi- '-tion, =and then'cooling said closure rib before releasing saidside wall" panels.

35'Ihe :method :of closing and sealing paraffined for similarly treated paper board con- :ita'iners of the 'type having a preformed body portion surmounted by an 'open mou th portion scored along predetermined fold lines to form a fully depressible bellows type closure, which comprises rigidly supporting said body portion against outward bulging, locally heating said mouth portion to soften the parafiin thereon, applying inwardly directed forces to predetermined end areas of said mouth portion while said parafiin is in softened condition partially to fold said mouth portion along said score lines, progressively forcing opposed side wall panels of said mouth portion inwardly to a substantially fiat position wherein the inner edges of said side wall panels extend upwardly in parallel relation to provide a multiple thickness adhesive coated closure rib, applying heat and pressure to opposite surfaces of said closure rib throughout substantially the entire length of said rib to form a compact seal therebetween While maintaining said side wall panels in said flat position, and then cooling said sealed rib before reposition.

4. The method of closing and sealing paraffined or similarly treated paper-board containers of the type having a preformed body portion surmounted by an open mouth portionadapted to form a fully depressible bellows type closure, said mouth portion comprising scored inwardly collapsible end panels and inwardly foldable side panels, each of said panels having an upper edge portion coated with hot-melt adhesive, said coated portions upon closure of said mouth portion forming an upstanding multiple thickness closure rib, which method comprises rigidly supporting said body portion against outward bulging, locally heating said end panels to soften the parafiin in the scored areas thereof, applying inwardly directed forces to said end panels partially to collapse said end panels along the score lines thereof while said paraffin is in softened condition, thereafter progressively forcing said side panels inwardly and downwardly to form a flat top with said coated edge portions in upstanding face-to-face relation, applying heat and pressure to said upstanding portions while maintaining said panels in said fiat position thereby to melt said adhesive and compact said edge portions into said rib, and then cooling said rib to set said adhesive before releasing said.

panels from said flat position.

5. The method of closing and sealing parafiined or similarly treated paper-board containers of the type having a preformed body portion surmounted by an open mouth portion adapted to form a fully depressible bellows type closure, said mouth portion comprising scored inwardly collapsible end panels and inwardly foldable side panels, each of said panels having an upper edge portion coated with hot-melt adhesive, said coated portions upon closure of said mouth portion forming an upstanding multiple thickness closure rib, which method comprises rigidly supporting said body portion against outward bulging, locally heating said end panels to soften the parafiin in the scored areas thereof, applying inwardly directed forces to said end panels partially to collapse said end panels along the score lines thereof while said paraflin is in softened condition, thereafter progressively forcing said side panels inwardly and downwardly to. form a flat top with said coated edge portions in upstanding face-to-face relation, applying heat and pressure throughout substantially the entire length and height of said upstanding portions while maintaining said panels in said flat posi- 8 tion thereby to melt said adhesive and compact said edge portions into said rib, and then immediately cooling said rib to set said adhesive before releasing said panels from said flat position.

6. The method of closing and sealing paraffined or similarly treated paper-board containers of the type having a preformed body portion surmounted by an open mouth portion adopted to form a fully depressible bellows type closure, said mouth portion comprising scored inwardly collapsible end panels and inwardly foldable side panels, each of said panels having an upper edge portion coated with hot-melt adhesive, said coated portions upon closure of said mouth portion forming an upstanding multiple thickness closure rib, which method comprises rigidly supporting said body portion against outward bulging, locally heating said end panels to soften the paraflin in the scored areas thereof, applying inwardly directed forces to said end panels partially to collapse said end panels along the score lines thereof while said paraffin is in softened condition, thereafter progressively forcing said side panels inwardly and downwardly to form a flat top with said coated edge portions in upstanding face-to-face relation, folding an upstanding tab on an outer one of said coated portions over the others of said portions to form said closure rib, applying heat and pressure to said rib while maintaining said panels in said fiat position to melt said adhesive and compact said rib, andthen cooling said rib to set said adhesive before releasing said panels.

7. Apparatus for closing and sealing paraffined or similarly treated paper-board containers of the typehaving ,a preformed body portion surmounted by an open mouth portion adapted ,to form a fully depressible bellows type closure,

comprising a rigid cup supported for movement along a predetermined path and adapted to receive the body portion of a container, means disposed along said path for locally heating the open mouth .portion of a container supported in said cup, means disposed on opposite sides of said path beyond said heating means and movable inwardly to engage and press inwardly o posed end panels of said heated mouth portion, plowv means extending along said path be- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS' Number Name Date 917,124 Peirson Apr. 6, 1909 1,909,319 Taylor May 16, 1933 1,931,280 Allison Oct. 17, 1933 2,023,682 Higginbottom Dec. 10, 1935 2,156,037 Wollenweber Apr. 25, 1939 2,156,441 I Watson et al May 2, 1939 2,189,431

Moore Feb. 6, 1940 

